In addition to the working machinery of a sailing ship, Royal Clipper's teak-lined top deck (called the Sun Deck) offers three small pools and rows of lounge chairs for passengers.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

The largest of Royal Clipper's three pools is located between the third (middle) and fourth (mizzen) masts of the ship. Notably, it has a glass bottom that serves as the roof of the vessel's three-deck-high interior atrium, making it one of the most unusual pools to be found at sea.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Among activities available to passengers when Royal Clipper is at sea is a climb up one of the ship's masts. Passengers must wear safety harnesses and are monitored by ship staff.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

A setting sun splashes light on one of Royal Clipper's two tender boats, which are suspended along the side of the vessel near its top deck. The boats are heavily used as Royal Clipper almost always anchors when visiting destinations.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Tucked away on the lowest of Royal Clipper's four passenger decks is a spiral stairway leading down to the vessel's fitness center and spa. Located below the ship's waterline, the area is known as Captain Nemo's.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Royal Clipper has 114 passenger cabins, the majority of which measure 145 square feet and feature double beds. Here, a standard "Category 2" cabin. Category 3 and 4 cabins are similar with the only difference being location on the ship.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Royal Clipper has no self-serve laundry machines, but passengers can send laundry out for cleaning while on-board using forms in cabin dressers. Pricing is in euro. Shirt and blouse cleaning costs 3 euro; trousers are 3.50 euro.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Royal Clipper cabins only offer European-style electrical outlets, making an adaptor a necessity for U.S. travelers. The typical cabin has just two outlets, both located along a small shelf across from the bed area.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Royal Clipper has a built-in marina at its stern that opens up while the ship is at anchor, offering passengers the chance to swim and kayak directly from the vessel. Passengers also can take out the ship's small sailboat.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Sail repair is a never-ending job on Royal Clipper. Passengers can watch as a crew member uses a giant sewing machine on the vessel's top deck to shore up weak points in sails during port stops.
Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

An anomaly in the world of cruising, Star Clippers operates three authentic sailing ships including the 227-passenger Royal Clipper, the world's largest full-rigged sailing vessel. The line offers voyages in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia.

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No. 25: American Queen. American Queen Steamboat Company's 3,707-gt, 436-passenger American Queen is not only the largest, most lavish riverboat of all time, it is a remarkably convincing avatar of those gingerbread-filigreed, high-fallutin' steamboats of the Mark Twain era.
Peter Knego

No. 25: American Queen. Built in 1995, the American Queen is powered by a genuine steam engine that propels its massive wooden paddlewheel along the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers that it calls home.
Peter Knego

No. 25: American Queen. Unlike the steamboats of yore, the five-deck American Queen boasts modern cruise ship comforts like air conditioning, some private balconies, a wading pool and gym, epicurean dining and lavish entertainment in a double-deck show lounge.
Peter Knego

No. 24: SS Legacy. Seattle-based UnCruise’s 1,472-gt, 88-passenger SS Legacy is also an avatar from of a bygone era -- in its case, the steamers that used to ply the coastal waterways of the U.S. Built in 1988 as the Pilgrim Belle, the ship looks better than ever in UnCruise’s smart gold and black livery.
Peter Knego

No. 24: SS Legacy. Despite the “SS” in its name, the SS Legacy is actually a diesel-powered cruise ship ideally suited for the Columbia and Snake Rivers of the Pacific Northwest. With its vertical prow, layer cake superstructure, stovepipe funnel and sheltered promenades, the quaint ship blends in nicely with the scenic places it visits.
Peter Knego

No. 23: Adriana. Before the cruise ship boom inspired by “The Love Boat” television series in the late 1970s, there was a fleet of pocket-sized, yacht-like vessels cruising the Mediterranean. One of the last survivors of this era is Adriana Cruises' MV Adriana. This little lady has a sleek, well-balanced profile with a sharply raked bow, sheer (a lengthwise curvature that dips slightly amidships), a sculpted, finned funnel and a rounded cruiser spoon stern.
Adriana Cruises

No. 23: Adriana. Perhaps the most obscure of all the cruise ships on this list, the 4,490-gt, 350-guest Adriana was built for now-defunct Hellenic Mediterranean Lines as the Aquarius, way back in 1972. It is now owned by St. Kitts and Nevis-registered Adriana Cruises, offering year-round sailings from Port of Spain, Trinidad, to the Grenadines.
Shawn Dake

No. 23: Adriana. Adriana’s interiors have been revamped in recent years and now exude a nautical feel accented with rustic wood tones. This ship offers an informal, old-fashioned, budget cruise experience without all the bells, whistles and dining options of typical modern cruise ships.
Adriana Cruises

No. 22: Oceania Class.
Oceania Cruises' 1,262-guest, 66,000-gt Oceania Class twins, the 2011-built Marina and the 2012-built Riviera (shown), are among today’s more fetching cruise ships. Although their sterns are a bit overbuilt and they lack promenades, they look their best from a 3/4 bow vantage with their long bows and pleasingly proportioned, curvaceous superstructures.
Peter Knego

No. 22: Oceania Class. The upmarket Marina and Riviera have been fitted with high-quality interiors that are more elegant than edgy or trendsetting. Their reception lobbies boast a grand, double helix staircase with iron and glass railings, marble surfacing and a Lalique crystal table.
Peter Knego

No. 22: Oceania Class. Pleasingly circular and elliptical forms are employed throughout the Marina and Riviera. They are especially evident in the crystal lighting of their multi-tiered main dining rooms.
Peter Knego

No. 21: Club Med Class. Two sail-enhanced, diesel-powered ships that were originally conceived for Windstar Cruises and completed for Club Med Cruises now operate as Windstar Cruises' Wind Surf (shown) and Club Med Cruises Club Med 2.
Peter Knego

No. 21: Club Med Class. Club Med 2 (shown) and Wind Surf boast four computer-operated masts that tower above their long, pointed bowsprits and winged, forward-situated funnels. In addition to having two swimming pools, water sports marinas unfold from their nicely rounded sterns.
Club Med Cruises

No. 21: Club Med Class. At 14,745 gt and with a capacity for 310 guests, the recently revamped Windsurf, which was built in 1989 as the Club Med 1, boasts tiers of beautiful teak decks that are ideal for sunning and al fresco dining.
Peter Knego

No. 20: The original “R” ships. Carnival Corp. owns two of the R ships, including the successor to the original “Love Boat," Princess Cruises’ Pacific Princess (ex-R Three, shown) and Fathom Cruises Adonia (ex-R Eight), the latter to be transferred back into the fold of British-based P&O Cruises when Fathom ceases operations later this year.
Peter Knego

No. 20: The original “R” ships. These ships provide an intimate alternative to mega-ship cruising but still offer a number of big-ship perks like a well-equipped spa, a large lido and pool area, as well as multiple dining venues.
Peter Knego

No. 20: The original “R” ships. All eight R ships were originally fitted out with identical Edwardian and Georgian-themed decor, but recent makeovers have given each their own distinctive interior look. This is the newly redone Horizons observation lounge aboard Oceania’s Sirena.
Peter Knego

No. 19: Lofoten. The hard-working Lofoten is one of the longest continually serving major passenger ships, having operated on the regularly scheduled Hurtigruten or Norwegian coastal run since it was built in 1964.
Peter Knego

No. 19: Lofoten. Shown in its original livery, the splendidly proportioned Lofoten measures 2,621 gt and can carry up to 149 berthed passengers with additional space for 251 on deck. This modest but handsome liner can also carry up to 708 cubic meters of cargo.
Hurtigruten

No. 19: Lofoten. Lofoten’s observation lounge has much of its original paneling and furnishing. Since it sails only in Norwegian waters, the ship is exempt from international Safety of Life at Sea fire regulations that prohibit wood construction on overnight passenger ships.
Peter Knego

No 18: Silver Shadow Class. Silversea is a deluxe cruise line with a fleet of nine all-inclusive luxury and expedition ships that includes the sleek, 2000-built Silver Shadow (shown) and 2001-built Silver Whisper.
Peter Knego

No 18: Silver Shadow Class. The Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper measure 28,258 gt and carry a mere 382 guests, giving them a passenger space ratio of 73 that ranks them among the most spacious cruise ships in the world. They are also the line’s most handsome ships, sporting nicely flared bows and low, streamlined superstructures.
Peter Knego

No 18: Silver Shadow Class. The spacious dining rooms on the Shadow and Whisper evoke an Old World ambiance with their recessed lighting, crystal chandeliers, muted color schemes and parquet woodwork.
Peter Knego

No. 17: Windstar’s Power Yachts. Oslo-based architects Yran and Storbratten have given these sleek vessels a graceful, nuanced look topped with unique funnel casings that did not translate as well on the ships’ much larger, 32,000-gt replacements, the Seabourn Odyssey class. Shown here, just months before its sale to Windstar is the Seabourn Spirit, now Star Breeze.
Peter Knego

No. 17: Windstar’s Power Yachts. The Power Yachts have teak-lined midships lido areas that are sheltered from the wind. They are ideal for sunning, deck parties and Windstar’s legendary al fresco buffets.
Peter Knego

No. 17: Windstar’s Power Yachts. Upon delivery to Windstar, the three Power Yachts were completely refurbished with a contemporary new interior look. This is the AmphorA Restaurant onboard the Star Breeze.
Peter Knego

No. 16: Celebrity Solstice Class. If this list were based solely on interior design and layout, Celebrity Cruises’ five-member Solstice Class ships would rank much closer to the pole position. However, their powerful and dynamic, wedge-like profiles are considerably more Darth Vader than Grace Kelley.
Peter Knego

No. 16: Celebrity Solstice Class. Even their mega-ship proportions cannot overwhelm a magnificent midships pool area that blends classic forms with fountains and a Space Age finish. They also boast a park-like Lawn Club with real grass, situated between their finely sculpted smokestacks and a solar panel-topped, glass-enclosed indoor pool area.
Peter Knego

No. 16: Celebrity Solstice Class. The Solstice Class ships boast some of the most spectacular observation lounges ever put to sea. Their interiors are the product of no less than seven design teams that have been curated and supervised by parent company Royal Caribbean’s Executive VP of Maritime and Newbuild, Harri Kulovaara.
Peter Knego

No. 15: Crystal Symphony. The ultra-luxe Symphony has simple but refined detailing that holds up at every angle, thanks to the guiding hand of the legendary, late marine architect Robert Tillberg.
Peter Knego

No. 15: Crystal Symphony. The Crystal Symphony will be getting a top-to-bottom interior makeover later this year but its original decor is nonetheless understated and restrained, resisting the “more is better” trend favored by some of Crystal’s luxury cruise line competitors. At the heart of the ship is a skylight-topped atrium with a water fountain.
Peter Knego

No. 14: Asuka II. This unique, 50,142-gt, 960-guest ship caters exclusively to the deluxe Japanese cruise market. If its profile looks familiar, that is because it was once a staple in U.S.-based cruising and ranked at the top of the luxury cruise tier.
Glenn Lappin

No. 14: Asuka II. The Asuka II is, of course, the former Crystal Harmony, the ship that launched Crystal Cruises in 1990. Although very similar to the Crystal Symphony, the Harmony’s funnel was situated slightly farther forward and the angle of its superstructure was more pronounced, making it the slightly more pretty of the pair.
Peter Knego

No. 14: Asuka II. Since 2005, the ex-Crystal Harmony has been sailing for Crystal’s former parent company, NYK Line (Nippon Yusen Kaisha), which is one of today’s biggest container shipping conglomerates. Prior to World War II, NYK was one of the world’s largest passenger shipping lines but now it operates just one cruise ship.
Byron Huart

No. 13: Wind Star Class. Windstar Cruises 1986-built Wind Star (shown) and 1988-built Wind Spirit were part of a trio that included the 1988-built Wind Song, which was deliberately sunk after an engine room fire in 2003. These 5,307-gt, 159-guest ships were the first all-new sail-enhanced major cruise ships to be built in decades.
Peter Knego

No. 13: Wind Star Class. With their racy, low profiles, tall, slender funnels and pronounced bowsprits, these ships even look beautiful with their stern marinas extended and without their sails unfurled. They have shallow drafts that enable them to visit off-the-beaten-track hamlets like Monemvasia in Greece.
Peter Knego

No. 13: Wind Star Class. Under their canopy of sails, the Wind Star and Wind Spirit have gorgeous teak decks, a wading pool bordered by a Jacuzzi and skylights that infuse their interiors with natural light.
Peter Knego

No. 13: Wind Star Class. After Windstar was purchased by new owners, Xanterra Resorts, the ships were given extensive refits with an elegant, contemporary new look that replaced the nautically themed stylings of renowned original designer Marc Held. This is the Wind Star’s AmphorA Restaurant.
Peter Knego

No. 12: Royal Clipper. Styled after the five-masted sailing ship Preussen of 1902, Star Clipper’s 5,000-gt, 227-guest Royal Clipper is a hybrid diesel/sailing ship that currently ranks in the Guiness World Records as the world’s largest passenger sailing ship.
Peter Knego

No. 12: Royal Clipper. With its 56,000 square feet of sails unfurled, the Royal Clipper is an awe-inspiring sight. Unlike the Windstar and Club Med vessels that combine modern aesthetics with sails, the Royal Clipper is very much a throwback to the pre-steam era of windjammers. Despite that, underneath the convincing exterior beats the heart of a very advanced vessel.
Peter Knego

No. 12: Royal Clipper. Royal Clipper’s impeccably scrubbed teak deck areas are filled with winches, ropes, bollards and capstans. They are also home to three wading pools and an al fresco bar. On the Royal Clipper, guests have the unique opportunities of climbing the mast or into the bowsprit net to dangle over the surging sea.
Peter Knego

No. 12: Royal Clipper. The Royal Clipper’s interior evokes an almost Jules Verne vibe with a three-deck atrium topped with a skylight that is actually the glass bottom of the ship’s largest pool. At the atrium’s base is the Restaurant, while the mid-level balcony features murals by artist Rainer Maria Latzke.
Peter Knego

No. 12: Royal Clipper. Other spaces on the Royal Clipper exude an Old World ambiance, such as the Library with its mahogany-toned paneling and cabinetry, brass-framed windows, brass lamps and tufted leather settees.
Peter Knego

No. 11: Disney Dream Class. Were they just a deck or two “shorter” and without the clutter of the AquaDuck water coasters on their upper decks, the mega-ships would surely rank even higher for their powerful profiles. Note the long bow and faux sheer created by dipping the hull’s black paintwork down towards the center of the ship.
Peter Knego

No. 11: Disney Dream Class. The two giant, black-topped crimson funnels certainly have their share of “Normandie-ness” but one wonders why Disney’s architects didn’t just give the Dream and Fantasy three stacks to achieve the ultimate effect.
Peter Knego

No. 11: Disney Dream Class. What is evident in every aspect of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy’s design and construction is the attention to detail. Even something as incidental as the tubing on the AquaDuck lends itself to close scrutiny. Clearly, no expense was spared in building these ships.
Peter Knego

No. 11: Disney Dream Class. Keeping in mind that these vessels are as much floating family amusement parks as they are cruise ships, their interiors are nonetheless impressive, employing quality elements such as crystal, brass, marble and ultra-plush carpeting.
Peter Knego

No. 10: Prinsendam. Holland America Line’s smallest ship, the 38,848-gt, 740-guest Prinsendam, is nicknamed “The Elegant Explorer." Were it not for a less-than-flattering block of cabins added to its stern in recent years, it may have ranked even higher on this list.
Holland America Line

No. 10: Prinsendam. The Prinsendam was built in 1988 as the Royal Viking Sun for Royal Viking Line, which at the time was one of the world’s most deluxe cruise lines. In a few ways, the Royal Viking Sun was a smaller prototype of Viking Cruises' new Viking Ocean class of ships, with its long clipper bow and streamlined funnel casing.
Peter Knego

No. 10: Prinsendam. Although Prinsendam is the oldest ship in the HAL fleet and lacks the amenities and multiple dining options of the line’s newest vessels, it enjoys a fiercely loyal repeat guest following, thanks to its modest size and now-classic features like teak-lined decks, a panoramic observation lounge and a full wraparound promenade deck.
Peter Knego

No. 9: Royal Viking Trio. That one, let alone all three, of these ultra-sleek, first-generation cruise ships is still in active service is a testament to their once-innovative and still strikingly beautiful design. U.K.-based Fred. Olsen Cruises operates two of the original Royal Viking Line ships, the 1972-built Black Watch (ex-Royal Viking Star, shown) and the 1973-built Boudicca (ex-Royal Viking Sea).
Marko Stampehl

No. 9: Royal Viking Trio. As built, the three nearly identical sister ships measured 22,000 gt and carried 539 passengers. Their ultra-raked clipper bows, streamlined superstructures, QE2-inspired funnel casings and terraced afterdecks were signature features of their time. With their light, airy Scandinavian interiors and modern artwork, they were the ultimate luxury cruise ships of the day.
Peter Knego Collection

No. 9: Royal Viking Trio. Between 1981 and 1983, the three sisters were expanded with 91-foot midsections that increased their tonnage to 28,221 gt and passenger capacity to 820. After leaving the Royal Viking fold, all three ships have gone on to a variety of incarnations.
Peter Knego Collection

No. 9: Royal Viking Trio. After numerous refits, Fred. Olsen Cruises’ Black Watch looks as good as ever and maintains a very loyal following. The ship has just emerged from a multi-million pound refit that should keep it going for many more years. This is the Black Watch’s revamped Glentanar Restaurant.
Fred. Olsen Cruises

No. 9: Royal Viking Trio. The third of the original Royal Viking trio sails on as Phoenix Seereisen’s Albatros for the German market. Like its Fred. Olsen-owned sisters, the well-maintained Albatros enjoys a devoted following.
Peter Knego

No. 8: Marco Polo. U.K.-based Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ classic 22,080-gt, 820-passenger Marco Polo has come a long way from its origins as a Soviet-era trans-oceanic liner. For a short while when it was cruising out of U.S. ports in the mid-1970s, it was rumored to be a "spy ship."
Peter Knego

No. 8: Marco Polo. The second of five nearly identical sister liners named for Russian poets, Marco Polo was built in 1965 as the Alexandr Pushkin for Soviet-owned and operated Baltic Shipping Company. The handsome vessel was sold to newly formed Orient Lines in 1991 and completely rebuilt for their expedition cruise service.
Peter Knego Collection

No. 8: Marco Polo. Sturdy East German construction and an ice-strengthened bow have served the Marco Polo well on its globe-trotting journeys. In 2010, it began operating for Cruise and Maritime Voyages and continues to do so with a loyal following.
Peter Knego

No. 8: Marco Polo. The Marco Polo is one of the last large active passenger ships in the world with tangible elements of sheer (lengthwise curvature) and camber (side-to-side curvature). What it lacks in newfangled amenities, it more than makes up for in visual appeal and Old World character.
Peter Knego

No. 8: Marco Polo. Marco Polo’s original Sulzer diesel engines were so solidly constructed and well-maintained that even after over 50 years of hard use, they still function beautifully. They are the key to the ship’s longevity and success.
Peter Knego

No. 7: Star Flyer Class. Like their larger fleetmate Royal Clipper, the Star Flyer and Star Clipper have teak decks that brim with sailing gear and ropes. They also sport a pair of wading pools, an outdoor bar and a generous amount of sunning space.
Peter Knego

No. 7: Star Flyer Class. As with the Royal Clipper, Star Flyer and Star Clipper guests have access to a long bowsprit where they can dangle over a swelling sea. Guests can also climb to the mast platform.
Peter Knego

No. 6: Nordstjernen. The 2,191-gt, 149-guest Nordstjernen is the real thing, an active vintage liner and not a modern-day reproduction. This splendidly handsome and well-preserved vessel operates on summer charter service for its former owners, Hurtigruten, on cruises from Norway’s northernmost Svalbard archipelago.
Peter Knego

No. 6: Nordstjernen. The Nordstjernen, shown in a vintage postcard view, was built in 1956 for now-defunct Bergen Steamship Company’s regularly scheduled Norwegian coastal or Hurtigruten service. In 2012, it was sold to present owners Vestland Rederi, and sent to Poland for a complete restoration.
Peter Knego Collection

No. 6: Nordstjernen. Now back in its original livery, the Nordstjernen is a true stunner. In 2012, it joined its 1964-built fleetmate Lofoten with “protected” status designation from the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage.
Peter Knego

No. 6: Nordstjernen. The ship’s public spaces have all been refreshed with new soft fittings but retain their original vintage feel. The forward lounge boasts carved wooden panels by the late Paul Rene Gauguin, grandson of the famed painter.
Peter Knego

No. 5: Sovereign Class. Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Sovereign Class were the first built-from-scratch mega cruise ships. The initial ship in the series, which now sails as Spanish-based Pullmantur Cruises’ blue-hulled Sovereign, was introduced in 1988 as the Sovereign of the Seas.
Vitor Francisco

No. 5: Sovereign Class. The largest cruise ship in the world when built, the Sovereign of the Seas measured 73,192 gt and could carry 2,800 passengers. Designed by the late Njal Eide, the ship featured gracious curves and a stern inspired by that of the still-influential, 1934-built French liner Normandie.
Peter Knego

No. 5: Sovereign Class. The Sovereign of the Seas was followed in 1990 by the slightly larger, 73,937-gt Monarch of the Seas. Compared to what would follow, these ships were especially good-looking with their long bows, terraced superstructures and clean lines.
Peter Knego

No. 5: Sovereign Class. The Monarch of the Seas was transferred to Royal Caribbean’s Pullmantur Cruises division in 2013 and currently sails for the Spanish-speaking market as the blue-hulled Monarch.
Russ Willoughby

No. 5: Sovereign Class. The Sovereign Class ships boasted a huge midships lido area for their time, with two large pools. They also had Royal Caribbean’s trademark Viking Crown Lounge, a 360-degree space enclosed in full-length glass panels cantilevered from their funnels.
Peter Knego

No. 5: Sovereign Class.The third ship in the Sovereign Class, the 73,941-gt Majesty of the Seas, was introduced in 1992. A proposed transfer to Pullmantur in 2016 was called off and the ship continues to sail for Royal Caribbean. Once the largest cruise ship in the world, it is now one of the oldest and smallest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, barely a third the size of the line’s 225,282-gt Oasis Class ships.
Peter Knego

No. 4: Viking Ocean Class. Expectations were high when longtime river stalwart Viking Cruises announced its first ocean-going cruise ships way back in 2013. The line had already set a new bar with its innovative Longship Class river vessels but the 47,800-gt, 930-guest Ocean Class ships, ushered in by the 2015-built Viking Star (shown) may be even better.
Peter Knego

No. 4: Viking Ocean Class. The identical Viking Star and 2016-built Viking Sea (shown) will be followed this year with the Viking Sky and Viking Sun and in 2018 and 2019 with the Viking Spirit and an unnamed sister. Their gorgeous exteriors feature long clipper bows inspired by the legendary Stella Polaris cruise ship of 1927, gently terraced superstructures and racily streamlined funnels (see Prinsendam). Their modest dimensions contain nuances of curvature and a symphony of well-integrated angles to please the most discerning eye.
Peter Knego

No. 4: Viking Ocean Class. The Viking Ocean ships offer an upmarket cruise experience with included excursions and Internet, drinks at lunch and dinner and numerous other perks that are covered in the fare. The midships pool, which can be enclosed with a sliding glass dome, looks like that of an upscale resort with its terraced levels and designer deck chairs.
Peter Knego

No. 4: Viking Ocean Class. In an era where many cruise lines are relegating all forward-facing space to revenue-generating cabins and spas, Viking bucks the trend with a spectacular double-deck observation lounge that provides some of the best views at sea. And the decor is stunning, with top-notch furnishings and a pair of moss gardens.
Peter Knego

No. 3: Disney Magic Class. One doesn’t even have to be a Disney fan to appreciate the beautiful ships Disney Cruise Line “imagined” with its 83,338-gt, 2,700-guest, 1998-built Disney Magic (shown) and 1999-built Disney Wonder. They convincingly evoke the great trans-Atlantic liners with their long bows, twin funnels (note how the aft funnel is slight taller) and dynamically coordinated angles and curves.
Byron Huart

No. 3: Disney Magic Class. Externally, the Disney Magic and Wonder are especially appealing for their relatively low, sleek profiles, which make the Disney Dream Class seem a bit overbuilt by comparison. While the pair is identical in form and layout, the Magic’s interiors have an Art Deco theme, versus the Wonder’s Art Nouveau trappings.
Peter Knego

No. 3: Disney Magic Class. Following a recent refit, both ships’ sterns were somewhat spoiled with the addition of a ducktail, or sponson, that helps maximize their hydrodynamic efficiency.
Byron Huart

No. 3: Disney Magic Class. Guests enter via a soaring lobby with ornate bronze railings (note the Mickey Mouse insets), polished marble and plush carpets. On the Wonder (shown), there is a sculpture of Ariel, the title character from "The Little Mermaid." Both ships are segregated into adults-, family- and kids-only zones.
Peter Knego

No. 2: Queen Mary 2. If that iconic orange and black funnel were just a few feet taller, Cunard Line’s mighty Queen Mary 2 might well have topped this list. Alas, since the entire ship needs to clear New York’s Verrazano Narrows Bridge, it’s probably best that it remains just as it is.
Byron Huart

No. 2: Queen Mary 2. This magnificent QM2 doesn’t just emulate the look of a great liner, it actually is one, beginning with a powerful-looking, long bow, that has been reinforced to forge the most challenging of seas. Its deep draft, taller hull-to-superstructure ratio and high maximum speed (30 knots) lend themselves to crossings as well as globe-trotting cruise service.
Peter Knego

No. 2: Queen Mary 2. Fresh from a multi-million dollar refit that saw the addition of new cabins and the complete refurbishment of all deck areas and public spaces, the 2,961-guest, 151,800-gt Queen Mary 2 is more splendid than ever. The only regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic liner in service between New York and Southampton, it continues a tradition that began with Cunard’s RMS Britannia of 1840.
Peter Knego

No. 2: Queen Mary 2. Built in 2003, decades after the jumbo jet decimated the ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2 takes much of its inspiration from past Cunard ships like its namesake, the first Queen Mary of 1936, the first Queen Elizabeth of 1940 and the ship that replaced them both, the recently retired Queen Elizabeth 2 of 1968.
Peter Knego

No. 2: Queen Mary 2. The Queen Mary 2 has acres of open teak deck and a beautifully terraced stern with two large pools that overlook the ship’s wake. It also has a fully encircling promenade deck with cushioned teak deck chairs, multiple forward observation terraces and a pool that can be covered by a sliding glass dome in inclement weather.
Peter Knego

No. 2: Queen Mary 2. Another space that was completely revamped with a very chic retro vibe, the legendary Queens Grill Restaurant is where the ship’s most lavish Duplex, Penthouse and Queens Suite guests dine.
Peter Knego

No. 1: Sea Cloud. Encountering the ultra-deluxe Sea Cloud is an almost otherworldly experience. It is the real deal, a survivor of a bygone era, combining splendid architecture with museum-quality craftsmanship and a luxury cruise experience on par with that of a private yacht -- which is fitting, since it was actually built as one.
Sea Cloud Cruises

No. 1: Sea Cloud. Sea Cloud was built as the Hussar V (shown) in 1931 for socialite and heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Renamed Sea Cloud in 1935, it would go on to serve as a U.S. Navy weather ship in World War II, a private yacht for Dominican Republic ruler Rafael Trujillo and a school ship before being converted to a cruise ship in 1978.
Sea Cloud Cruises

No. 1: Sea Cloud. The 3,077-gt vessel now carries up to 64 guests who are tended to by a crew of 60. Its sails are augmented by a diesel engine that drives twin screws at a leisurely speed of 14 knots.
Peter Knego

No. 1: Sea Cloud. The ship’s spectacular wood-paneled interiors had to be carefully modified and fireproofed in order pass the latest, most stringent Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements. This is a corner of the oak-paneled lounge.
Sea Cloud Cruises

No. 1: Sea Cloud. There may be bigger sea-going accommodations but few can rival the Sea Cloud’s two top suites, which feature carved oak paneling, marble fireplaces and brass fittings.
Sea Cloud Cruises